Sewing machine



March 31, 1936- E. R. THOMPSON SEWING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledApril 26, 1934 uvm.

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

March 31, 1936.

E. R. THOMPSON SEWING MACHINE Filed April 26, 193

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

March 31, 1936. E. R. THOMPSON SEWING MACHINE Filed April 26, 1934 4Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. WwW/w BY ATTORNEY.

E. R. THOMPSON SEWING MACHINE March 31, 1936.

4 Sheets-sheet 4 Filed April 26, 1954 z 7^ FII/IPIIWIIIIII A W YATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 31, 19,36

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SEWING MACHINE Elliott R. Thompson, Wycombe,Pa. A Application April 26, 1934, Serial No. 722,425

12 Claims.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in a sewing machineand especially toimprovements on my co-pending application, Serial No.647,571, filed December 16, 1932. The present device, as was the formerone, is particularly adapted for lembodiment as a portable, manuallymanipulated bag -sewing or closing machine.

Y One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a compactunitary sewing machine structure which will be relatively light inweight, therefore adapting it for use as a hand manipulated machine.

Another object of the invention is to produce a bag sewing machine ofruggedv construction which will be strong, durable and capable ofwithstanding hard usage.

Another object of the invention is to utilize two sets of driving wheelsor rollers, one set at each side 'of the needle or point of sewing,whereby the sewing operations, or at least the stitch formingoperations,will start prior to the material reaching the location of theneedle and continue for a considerable period after the material haspassed the said location of the needle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a drive mechanismincluding gear trains with portions thereof above and below thesupporting frame or base plate, thereby inverting the location of theneedle and its coacting parts relative to their positions illustrated inmy prior application.

A further object of the invention is to provide simple and eiectivemeans for straightening the mouth of a bag vas the machine is passedover it.

A still further object of vthe invention is to provide a defiector whichwill assure a xed position for the thread to assure said threadsengaging with the needle during all phases of sewing.

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent fromthe description, this invention consistsv in the details of constructionand combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specificallydesignated by the claims. u

In order that those skilled in the art to which this inventionappertains may understand how to make and use the same, I will describeits construction in detail, referring by numerals to the accompanyingdrawings forming a part of this application, in whch1 Fig. 1 is a topplan view of a sewing machine constructed in accordance with my presentinvention, a portion of the top cover and handle broken away.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the machine with the movable guide, itssupport, the deector, needle, and the needle driving crank omitted toclarify other structural details.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, illustratingthe bag straightening and feeding device.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the stationary guide.

Fig. 5 is a rear end View of the machine with the top cover and gearcasing broken away, as well as part of the deiiector and the near siderollers omitted.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan view of the universal joint assembly.

Fig. '1 is a side view thereof.

Fig'. 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged top view of the movable guide support and integraldeiiector.

Fig. 10 is a left hand side view thereof.

Fig. 11 is a face view of the same, and

Fig. 12 is a right hand side view of Fig. 9.

In carrying out the invention as herein embodied, I5 representsgenerally the framework, which includes two plates I6 and I1 havingadjacent edges spaced apart to provide a bag or work receiving channelI8 which may be enlarged at the entrance end to provide a wide mouth I9.The two plates are rigidly held in their relative positions by a forkedand arched handle 20, including a horn 2|, which is the grip. Saidhandle may be formed as an integral part of the framework or otherwiseconnected to the two plates.

On top of one of the plates, as I6, are revolvably mounted two rollers22 and 23 in spaced relation and preferably including compressibletires, and on top of the other plate as I1 are revolvably mounted twoother rollers 24 and 25 in the same spaced relation as the rst mentionedrollers, and these also preferably include compressible tires.

Each roller on one plate cooperates with a roller on the other plate sothat they function in pairs and the peripheries of the rollers of eachpair engage one another midway the width of the channel I8. All of therollers are mounted on suitable axles 26, mounted in the plates.

Each roller 22 and 23 carries a gear wheel 21 and 28 respectively, bothof which mesh with a gear wheel 29 mounted above the plate I6 on a shaft30 journalled in and passing through the said plate I6. Another gearwheel 3| is mounted on the same shaft 33 beneath said plate I 6, andmeshes with a gear wheel 32 mounted on a shaft 33 journalled in andpassing through the plate |6 and a bearing block 34. l

0n the upper end of the shaft 33 is mounted a bevel gear 35 meshing witha bevel pinion 36 on an axle 31 suitably mounted in the bearing block34, and said axle 31 is located in an oblique position relative to theshaft 33, or it is oblique to an imaginary perpendicular line having theplates as a base. The bevel pinion 36 revolves a crank 38, here shown asa disc for the purpose of balance. 1 The drive rollers 22, 23, 24, and25 are mounted in the same plane, and as above pointed out, they haveperipheral contacts above the channel between the two frame plates.Therefore, as the machine is passed over the mouth of a bag. said driverollers will engage the same and be revolved. As the rollers 22 and 23are revolved, mlotion will be transmitted to the crank means 33 throughthe gear trains, including either of the gears 21 or 28, and gears 29,3|, 32, 35 and 36. The gear wheels 3| and 32 are enclosed in a gear case33 mounted on the under side of the framework, and particularly theplate I6.

'Ihe crank means revolves in a plane at an angle of about forty-fivedegrees to the plane of rotation of the bevel gear 35 and carries thesocket member 40 of a universal joint and, if desirable, acounterbalance weight 4|. 'Ihe socket member 43, Figs. 6 and 7, has ashank 42 which is set in a hole in the crank means 38 and held in placeby a suitable fastening such as a set screw 43.

The open end of the socket member 40 is smaller in diameter than is thediameter of the ball 44 of the universal joint so as to permit rotationof the ball while preventing withdrawal of said ball from the socketmember. There are a number of ways that these elements may be assembled,but for convenience of illustration the rim of the socket member isrepresented as having been spun inward about the ball after the latterhas been inserted in the socket member.

The ball 44 has a slot 45 formed therein and a pin 46 carried by thesocket member 40 projects into said slot but only for a short distancein order not to interfere with certain rotary movements of the ball.Considering only Fig. 8, the assembly of the elements of the universaljoint is such that the ball can rotate to some degree in all directionsexcept in the plane crosswise of the plane of the slot, or so that therod 41 carried by the' ball, cannot rotate, relative to socket 43, uponits own axis. The movement of the rod is taken care of by the crankmeans as will be later described.

The rod 41 is the holder for the needle 43,'the free end of which ispointed at 49 and to the rear of the pointed end is a hook for pickingup the thread. The needle is supported, intermediate its ends, in aneyelet or needle guide 50 which is the fulcrum for said needle. Said4eyelet, needle guide or fulcrum is produced by forming a tapered hole inthe bracket or support 5|, Figs. 9 to 12 inclusive.

The bracket 5| comprises a foot 52, through the medium of which it maybe attached to the framework of the machine, and especially the top ofthe plate I6, an upright portion or panel 53, in which the tapered holeis formed to provide the needle fulcrum or eyelet 50, and a dellector 54projecting from one side of the panel near the top thereof and extendingacross the channel I3. The rear vertical edge of the deector isseparated from the panel 53 by a deep notch 55 and the inner surface ofsaid deilector adjacent the forward edge is concave as at 56.

A movable or spring guide 51, which is practically U shaped, has an endxed to the back of the panel 53 of the support or bracket 5| byfastening-devices 53 inserted in holes 59 in the panel in the region ofthe eyelet 53, wherefore said guide must have a hole corresponding tothe eyelet 53 to permit passage of the needle. The free part of themovable guide extends around the edge of ,the panel, through the notch55, thence along the inner surface of the deector and toward the handleend of the machine and in the same vertical plane as, but above, thechannel I3. 'I'he free portion of said movable guide 51 also has anaperture for the passage of the needle.

Co-operating with the aforementioned movable guide is a practicallyfixed or stationary guide 63, provided with a right angle extension 6|at the top of its rear edge. An elongated aperture 62 is provided whichextends longitudinally of the guide, through the angle and into theextension 6|. The guide has a toe 63 at the lower end by which it may besecured to a bracket 64 with fastening means 65. 'I'he bracket 64 isattached to the framework, and more particularly the plate |1, byfastening means 66.

The guides 51 and 60 form a passageway between them, for the bag orother work and since the terminal of the free portion of the movableguide projects in the direction of travel of the machine on the work aneven tension is provided throughout the length of said movable guidewhereas if the movable guide is reversed it will be canted and only theheel will be effective. When arranged as shown, it positively insuresthe keeping of the thread on the needle as the bag seam passes and theneedle is in a retracted position during the formation of a loop.

The stationary guide 60 provides a rigid support or backing for the workwhen being pierced by the needle and affords a fixed guide for thethread when the passageway between the guides is opened by the worktherein. The deector 54, while located rearwardly of the guides,cooperates therewith in positioning a portion of the thread, andespecially fixes the location of the thread while the guides are spreadapart by the Work.

'I'he thread cop 10 is mounted on a spindle 1| carried by the frameworkof the machine and the base of said spindle is surrounded by a. 'collar12 over which the cone housing 13 is telescoped to hold said housing inplace. The housing surrounds the major part of the cop and limits theWhipping action of the thread as it is pulled from the cop. f

The thread strand 14 passes through suitable thread guides 15 to athread conductor 16 including a standard 11 fixed at its lower end tothe bracket 64 by fastening means 18 and having a lip 13 formed at theupper end. The lip is in a horizontal position with a hole therethroughfor the passage of the thread and at opposite sides of the lip areproduced upstanding cheeks 30 for stiffening the lip and producing achannel for the thread.

The thread strand 14 passes through the hole in the lip 19, thencethrough the aperture 62 in the stationary work guide and then betweenthe rollers 23 and 25 as shown in Fig. 1. 'Ihus a portion of the threadis held in a straight line crosswise the path of travel of the needleAso as to be picked up by said needle. f

A top cover 8| is mounted above the rollers 22 and 23, the lmiversaljoint mechanism, needle and movable work guide, on posts 82 or theirequivalent, and at the rear end of said cover is formed a recess 83 forthe reception of a removable, interchangeable thread cutter 84, such asa safety razor blade. Screw 9| passes through a clear hole in removableblock 90, thence through the razor blade and into the tapped hole in topcover 8l, thus holding said razor blade in position. When the machinehas passed completely over the bag, in the closing operation, itsmovement is continued fora few inches to produce a length of threadcable. Then, arresting the motion of the machine, the operator, stillsupporting the machine with one hand, grasps the-thread cable with theother hand and draws it over the cutting edge of the blade 84, therebysevering the thread cable. Of course it will be understood that saidcutter may be located in any desirable position and may have a guardassociated therewith to protect the machine operator.

At the front end of the cover 8| is a downwardly and forwardlyprojecting inclined leg 85 attached to the plate I6 so that the inneredge of said inclined leg is in thesame plane as the edge of the platel6 along the channel I8. Said leg has a chamber 86 formed in the inneredge, in which is slidably mounted a presser member 81 normally forcedoutward by a spring 88. This presser member is part of the bagstraightening and feeding device, vand cooperates with the contiguousface of the presser block 89 carried by the other plate l1.

' That portion of the face of the presser block with which the pressermember 81 coacts protrudes beyond the plane of the inner edge of theplate l1 so as to be approximately on the center line of the channel I8,and likewise the inner edge of the top cover 8| overhangs the channel I8and is parallel to a line between the contact points of the rollers tofacilitate operation of the machine by a user.

To use the machine for stitching a bag to close the mouth thereof, theoperator holds the machine by the handle or horn and introduces one earof the bag into the channel I8, with the other hand, at the handle end of the machine, and between the presser member 81 and the presser block89. By holding onto the bag ear-and -moving the machine along in a lefthand direction asthe device is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the bagwill be iirst introduced between the cooperating pair of rollers 22 and24. Thebag straightening device will smooth out all puckers in the bagmouth and provide suiiicient hold-back tensionA to maintain the bagmouth taut between the straightening device and the forward rollers 22and 2l. It will also bring the unsupported portion of the bag mouth upinto position for being closed as the machine progresses along the topof the bag. The inner edge of the top cover 8I- functions as a guard forthe operators hand which holds the bag ear. On starting the bag closingoperation the operator has a tendency to pull the bag ear sidewise, ortoward the rollers 22 and 23. The edge of the top cover 8l beingdirectly over the channel I8 between the plates. and being also directlyover the channel formed by the work guides. entrance of the folded edgeof the bag mouth between the work guides is thus assured. The foldededge of the bag mouth is stretched over the inner edge of top cover 8|and facilitatesfthe piercing ofthe material 1U theneedle'saidmaterll'rstmulchinml' 'through the fabric and the previouslyformed loop to produce a-stitch and forni-anotlm loop. These operationscontinue until the bag mouth is completely stitched from end. to end.After the bag mouth has been disengaged; from the rollers 22 and -28 theneedle will be operated by the rollers 23 and 25 as before stated andany desired length of after thread cable may be produced by prolongingthe operation of the machine with the thread cable as the work overwhich the rollers 29 and 25 pass.'

By virtue of the method of mounting the needle and its passing through adefinitely placed needle guide or fulcrum, it will be caused tooscillate through the bag once every revolution of the bevel pinion.'The universal joint aJlows it to vary its angle with the plane of thebevel pinion, but causes it to nke a. complete revolution on its ownlongitudinal axis during-evitar#r revolution of the bevel pinion, or forevery oscillation of the needle through the bag'. The needleguideissolocatedastocausethesewngor pointed end of the needle to movethrough a generally circular orbit while piercing and withdrawing iromthe bag. This movement not only accomplishes the projection andretraction of the needle, but also compensates for the travel of themachine over the bag.- The'needle guide being to one side of the axis'of thefbevei pinion produces the oscillatory motion of the needle assaid pinion rotates. Y

-As the needle enters the fabric, the pinion and its associated crankmeans will be starting into the lower half of the travel of theuniversal joint. or `the piercing stroke of the needle, and the openpart of the needle hook will be towards the front endof the machine. Thecontinued movement of the parts will cause the needle to rotate on itsown longitudinal axis so that the hook will turn upward to engage thethread. During the reti-acting movement ofthe needle. the hook will beturned towards the rear end of the machine. carrying the loopI oefthread with it.

As the crank means turns through the upper half of its travel, theneedle turns another one hundred eighty degrees on its longitudinal axisso that when it again enters the fabrw, the thread is looped around itandremainsonthe near side of the bag. Upon the next retracting movementof the needle with anew loop, the rst loopisincontactwithtibackoftheneedle, or that part opposite the open side of the -lll hook, permittingthe new or suhceqnt loop to be drawn through the former om, therebypmducing' a chain stitch with a single thread. By virtue of the needleturning the last mentioned one. hundred eighty to form a loop, said loopis twisted, which twisting gives additional strength to the stitching.

Of course I do not wish to be limited to vthe exact details ofconstruction herein shown and described and these may be varied Withinthe scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new anduseful, iszl. A sewing machine including a pair of spaced plates in thesame plane constituting a frame with a channel therethrough, two pairsof cooperating rollers mounted on the frame so that the peripherles ofthe rollers of each pair contact in a plane bisecting the channel, saidpairs of rollers being spaced apart, a needle mounted to reciprocateacross the channel between the pairs of rollers, and means to transmitmotion to said needle from one of the rollers of each pair.

2. The structure in claim 1, in combination with a top cover having anedge in the same plane as the contact points oi' the pairs of rollers.

3. A sewing machine including a pair of spaced plates in the same planeconstitutinga frame with a channel therethrough, two pairs ofcooperatingr rollers mounted on the top of the frame so that theperipheries of the rollers oi' each pair contact in a plane bisectingthe channel,v said pairs of rollers being spaced apart. a gear wheelconnected to each of the rollers on one side of the channel and -abovethe frame, a gear wheel meshing with both of the first mentioned gearwheels, an axle for the second mentioned gear wheel, another gear wheelmounted on said axle below the trame, another gear wheel meshing withthe third mentioned gear wheel, an axle for the last mentioned gearwheel, a bevel gear above the frame on the second mentioned axle, abevel pinion meshing with the bevel gear, an axle for the bevel pinion,

crank means connected with the bevel pinion.,r

and a needle having a universal joint connection with the crank meanswhereby said needle will be reciprocated across the channel, said needlebeing loosely supported adjacent said channel.

4. The structure in claim 3, in combination with a work straighteningdevice carried by the frame adjacent to the entrance to the channel andcomprising a presser block on one side of said channel, and a springactuated presser member on the opposite side of said channel andcooperating with the presser block.

5. A sewing machine including a pair of spaced plates in the same planeconstituting a frame with a channel therethrough, two pairs ofcooperating rollers mounted on the frame so that the perlpheries of therollers of each pair contact in a plane bisecting the channel, saidpairs. of rollers being spaced apart, a. gear wheel connected to each ofthe rollers on one side ofthe channel, an axle journalled in the frameequidistant from the said gears, a gear on said axle meshing with bothof the first mentioned gears,

another gear on said axle, a second axle journalled in the frame, a gearon said second axle meshing with the second gear on the rst axle, abevel gear on the second axle, a bevel pinion meshing with the bevelgear and journalled on a. shaft positioned oblique to the second axle,crank means connected with the bevel pinion, a imiversal joint includinga rod carried by said crank means, a bracket supported by the frameadjacent the channel and on the same'side oi' said channel as the crankmeans and associated elements, said bracket having a hole therethrough,a hook needle mounted in the rod and projecting through the hole in saidbracket and loosely supported by said bracket, and guides lmounted inthe region ot said bracket and having apertures for the e oi the needle,said guides cooperating to Support work over which the machine ispassed.

6. l'he structure in claim 5, in combination with a deilector carried bythe bracket and pro jecting part way across the channel to the rear ofthe guides, said deilector iixlng the position of the thread beyond theguides.

7. In a sewing machine including a frame composed of two plates in thesame plane and spaced apart to provide a channel, a needle to beoscillated across said channel, means to actuate said needle, a topcover supported by theframe and disposed above the needle, a downwardlyinclined leg extending from the forward end of said top cover andpositioned adjacent the channel, said leg having a chamber thereinopening toward said channel, a spring operated presser member in saidchamber. and a presser block carried by one of the frame plates andopposed to the presser member.

8. 'I'he structure in claim 7, in combination with guides located abovethe longitudinal center of the channel intermediate the ends thereof andincluding a movable and a stationary guide, a right angle extensionformed with the upper rear edge of the stationary guide, said guide andextension having an elongated aperture therein extending through theangle of the parts. and a toe at the lower end of the stationary guideby which it may be secured to a portion of the machine.

9. A portable sewing machine including a frame composed of two plates inthe same plane and spaced apart to provide a channel, a, needle to beoscillated across said channel, means to actuate said needle, means tostraighten the work as it enters the channel during the passage of themachine thereover, cooperating stationary and movable guides in theregion of the needle to assist in holding the work in position forsewing, and a thread conductor adjacent the stationary guide andcomprising a verticalstandard, a horizontal lip at lright angles to thestandard and projecting from the upper end thereof toward the stationaryguide, said lip having a hole therethrough, and upwardly projectingcheeks at the sides of said lip.

10. The structure in claim 9, in combination with a spindle carried bythe machine frame adjacent the thread conductor and adapted to receive athread cop, a collar formed with the machine frame about the base of thespindle, and a hollow, open ended cone shaped housing removably mountedon the collar to house said thread cop and prevent an undue whippingaction of the thread as the latter is drawn from the cop.

1l. A portable sewing machine including a frame composed .of two platesin the same plane and spaced apart to provide a channel, a needle to beoscillated crosswise of said channel, means to actuate said needle,means to straighten the work as it enters the channel during the passageof the machine thereover, guides in the region of the needle to assistin holding the work during the sewing operations, a top cover supportedabove the needle with an edge thereof parallel with the center of thechannel above the latter, said top cover having a recess at its rearedge and a communicating depression, a thread cutter in said depressionand projecting into the recess, a block superimposed on the cutterwithin the depression,

and means to temporarily fasten the block for clamping the cutter inplace.

12.. In a part for a portable sewing machine, a bracket comprising afoot, a panel projecting from said foot and having a tapered holetherethrough with the largest diameter at the back of the panel, a.deilector projecting forwardly from the upper part of the panel andhaving a curved nose and a concave inner surface, said bracket beingprovided with a deep notch separating a portion of the rear of thedeector from the panel, and a guide member fixed to the back of thepanel and projecting through the notch with a part of said guideoccupying the concavity of the deiiector whil the free end of said guidemember projects from the deflector in front of the panel and insubstantially parallelism with the face of said panel.

ELLIO'I'I R. THOMPSON.

